Akron Opens MAC Play at InfoCision Stadium against Buffalo

Saturday, September 30

Akron, Ohio

NOON

University of Akron

Buffalo

Akron Opens MAC Play at InfoCision Stadium against Buffalo

September 29 | Football

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron football will open Mid-American Conference play at InfoCision Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30 against the Buffalo Bulls. Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game is slated to be broadcasted on ESPN+ with Connor Onion (PxP), Adam Breneman (Analyst) and Dannie Rogers (Sideline) calling the action with a link on GoZips.com.

Television: ESPN+ - Connor Onion (pxp), Adam Breneman (analyst), Dannie Rogers (Sideline)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - David Skoczen (pxp), Joe Dunn (analyst)
WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM
iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com - https://es.pn/46p9vPv
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com - https://bit.ly/485p7sw

HEAD COACHES
BUFFALO
Maurice Linguist (Baylor, 2006)
Overall Record: 11-18 (3rd Season)
Record at Buffalo: 11-18 (3rd Season)

AKRON
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
Overall Record: 55-38 (8th Season)
Record at Akron: 3-13 (2nd Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: Buffalo def. Akron, 23-22 (Buffalo, N.Y. - Dec. 2, 2022)
Last Meeting in Akron: Buffalo def. Akron, 45-10 (Akron, Ohio – Oct. 23, 2021)

Akron and Buffalo are meeting for the 23rd time in program history with the series standing at an 11-11 stalemate. In the last meeting between the two schools as Buffalo has claimed the last five games [24-6 (2018), 21-0 (2019), 56-7 (2020), 45-10 (2021), 23-22 (2022)]. The last win for the Zips came in 2017 at InfoCision Stadium as Akron defeated Buffalo 21-20 (Oct. 28). The series between the two schools dates back to the 1999 campaign when Akron earned an 17-10 road victory over Buffalo. The Zips and Bulls have met every season since 2014.

SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo opens MAC play with an 0-4 overall record against opponents with a 13-3 overall record [3-1 Wisconsin (38-17), 3-1 Fordham (40-37), 4-0 Liberty (55-27), 3-1 Louisiana (45-38)]. QB Cole Snyder directs the Bulls' attack passing for 933 yards, averaging 233.3 yards per game on 96 of 156 passing with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. RB Mike Washington and Ron Cook have rushed for 234 and 168 yards, respectively, while posting four combined touchdowns, two each. The Bulls have five receivers with 100+ yards, including Marlyn Johnson (15-175), Nik McMillan (10-153), Darrell Harding, Jr. (8-143), Cole Harrity (19-136) and Cook (10-102). Johnson leads the receiving corps. With four touchdowns followed by Harding and Harrity with two, McMillian and Cook with one each. Defensively, LB Shaun Dolac leads the squad in takedowns, collecting a team-high 32 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss of five yards and one interception with a 32 yard return. LB Joe Andreessen and S Marcus Fuqua follow with 22 tackles, while DE Max Michel recorded 2.5 of the team's six sacks. As a team, the Bulls average 29.8 points per game, while their opponents net 44.5 points per outing. Buffalo has thrown for 232.5 yards and rushed for 121.0 yards per tilt.

AKRON NOTES
• DJ Irons and Lorenzo Lingard each rushed for over 100 yards for the Zips with 141 and 113 yards, respectively.
• Akron outgained Indiana, 474-282, including a 263-92 advantage on the ground.
• Sophomore LB Bryan McCoy (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 12 tackles.
• Akron won the time of possession battle 34:24 to 25:36.
• Akron won the turnover battle 3-1 after intercepting one pass and recovering two fumbles.
• Akron tallied 3 points in the third quarter, accounting for 100% of their total score.
• Akron converted 6 of 15 third downs while Kentucky was successful on 5 of 8.
• Akron won the time of possession battle 34:47 to 25:13.
• Irons completed 67.6% of his passes on the day, going 23-for-34
•CJ Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks for the Zips.
•Noel Roach blocked punt to setup Akron field goal, made by Noah Perez 22 yards
•Alex Adams caught his first TD pass of the season 29 yards from Jeff Undercuffler 5-5 on the 67-yard drive.
•Devonte Golden-Nelson recorded the Zips first interception of the season and first Pick-6, taking the 50 yards for his first-career touchdown.
• Akron outgained Morgan State 262-231, including a 254-152 advantage through the air.
• Akron converted 4 of 11 third downs while Morgan State was successful on 2 of 16.
• The Zips had three players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Bryan McCoy, who had 14.
• The Zips racked up nine tackles for loss and added four sacks.
• Akron posted 279 yards of total offense in the season opener vs Temple
• DJ Irons accounted for 205 yards of offense with two TDs on 17-of-29 throwing.
• Lorenzo Lingard caught a career-high 77 yard TD reception from Irons on the second play of the game to give Akron a 7-0 lead.
• Daniel George caught a 50-yard long pass from Irons to setup the Zips second TD
• Myles Walker hauled in the second TD pass from Irons, a 14 yard reception and his first career touchdown
• Drake Anderson led the ground attack with 40 of the Zips 74 yards.
• Akron's defense registered three tackles for loss with eight total yards.Bryan McCoy (1), Shammond Cooper (0.5), Terray Jones (1) and CJ Nunnally (0.5) recorded the takedowns.
• Darrian Lewis, Antavious Fish and McCoy recorded seven tackles each to lead the Zips. Judson Tallendier, Cooper and KJ Martin followed with five each.

MAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
(Sept. 25) - QB DJ Irons was named Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced. Irons generated 335 of 474 yards of total offense for the Zips in a four-overtime setback to Indiana on Saturday night, 29-27. Irons paced the Zips rushing attack by accumulating 141 yards with two touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry and a 34-yard long rushing attempt. He also threw for 194 yards, completing 22-of-35 passes and a 28-yard long toss to sophomore WR Jasaiah Gathings. Irons gave Akron a 10-7 advantage on a 14-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter after returning to the game. He found paydirt in the first overtime period with a 10-yard TD rush.

(Sept. 11) - CJ Nunnally was named Mid-American Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. Nunnally provided a spark for Akron, helping them to a 24-21 win over Morgan State in their home opener at InfoCision Stadium on Saturday. With less than a minute to play, Nunnally forced a fumble to setup the game-winning touchdown. He forced the fumble at the Morgan State 13-yardline, stripping the Bears QB J.J. Davis of the ball, allowing teammate LB Bryan McCoy to recover the loose ball and score the game-winning touchdown.In addition, Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks, recording two of the Zips four sacks on the game. His sacks totaled 10-yards of loss and posted a third tackle for an eight-yard loss. In all, Nunnally registered four tackles, three solo and one assisted, with three tackles for losses.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2023 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected seniors QB DJ Irons, WR Daniel George, DB KJ Martin and LB Bryan McCoy as captains for Akron for the 2023 campaign.

UP NEXT
Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium for 2023 Homecoming & Family Weekend game against Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.